Down rigger line release

Abstract

A down rigger line release is disclosed for releasably holding a fishing line relative to a down rigger line. The release includes a body defining an upwardly, opening groove which is angled from the horizontal. The fishing line is wrapped around a tapered release pin pivotally mounted at one end within the groove. Due to the taper of the pin, the fishing line will be wedged between the pin and the sidewalls of the groove when the pin is disposed within the groove. A resiliently mounted member is carried by the body and exerts an adjustable force against the free end of the tapered release pin.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A down rigger line release for releasably holding a fishing line relative to a down rigger line, said release comprising: a body attachable to the down rigger line and defining an upwardly opening groove having vertically oriented, spaced sidewalls, said groove being angled downwardly at an acute angle from horizontal;   a tapered release pin having a tapered portion and being pivotally mounted at one end within said groove about an axis perpendicular to said sidewalls and around the tapered portion of which the fishing line may be wrapped so as to normally be wedged between said release pin and said body groove sidewalls, said pin being pivoted about an axis perpendicular to the sidewalls of said groove; and   means carried by said body for exerting an adjustable force against the free end of said tapered release pin to maintain the release pin within the groove in a detent fashion.   
     
     
       2. A down rigger line release as defined by claim 1 wherein said body is generally triangular in shape and includes a vertical edge, a lower horizontal edge and a generally angled edge connecting said lower edge to said vertical edge. 
     
     
       3. A down rigger line release as defined by claim 2 wherein said groove opens outwardly and upwardly from said body along said angled edge. 
     
     
       4. A down rigger line release as defined by claim 3 wherein said tapered release pin is generally conical in shape and the wide end of which is pivoted to said body within and adjacent the upper end of said groove, said pin having a maximum diameter substantially equal to but slightly less than the width of said groove. 
     
     
       5. A down rigger line release for releasably holding a fishing line relative to a down rigger line, said release comprising: a body attachable to the down rigger line and defining an upwardly opening groove, said groove being angled from horizontal;   a tapered release pin pivotally mounted within said groove and around which the fishing line may be wrapped so as to normally be wedged between said release pin and said body; and   means carried by said body for exerting an adjustable force against the free end of said tapered release pin to maintain the release pin within the groove in a detent fashion, said body being generally triangular in shape and including a vertical edge, a lower horizontal edge and a generally angled edge connecting said lower edge to said vertical edge, said groove opening outwardly from said body along said angled edge, said tapered release pin being generally conical in shape and the wide end of which being pivoted to said body within and adjacent the upper end of said groove, said pin having a maximum diameter substantially equal to but slightly less than the width of said groove, and said force exerting means comprising:   a threaded member threaded to said body and extending through one end of said groove, said member defining a bore at the end extending into said groove;   a plunger disposed within said bore; and   means for resiliently biasing said plunger outwardly and into engagement with the free end of said tapered pin whereby adjustment of said threaded member relative to said body varies the force which must be exerted on said pin by said fishing line to release said pin.   
     
     
       6. A down rigger line release pin as defined by claim 5 wherein said body defines a thumb cutout opening through a side of said groove to permit access to said pin. 
     
     
       7. A down rigger line release pin as defined by claim 6 wherein said angled edge of said body is angled from horizontal at an angle of approximately 35°. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for releasably holding a fishing line relative to a down rigger line, said apparatus comprising: a rudder shaped body having spaced parallel sides, a vertical front surface, a generally horizontal bottom surface and a top surface extending from the top of said front surface to said lower surface, said top surface having an angled portion extending at an acute angle upwardly relative to said bottom surface and towards said front surface, said body having an elongated groove of generally constant width and depth opening outwardly through said top surface angled portion, said groove including spaced parallel sidewalls;   a tapered release pin of generally conical shape having the end of greatest diameter pivoted to said body within said groove about an axis perpendicular to said sidwalls, said pin being positionable within said groove; and   pressure means for exerting an adjustable pressure against the free end of said release pin when said pin is within said groove, whereby a line may be wrapped around the tapered release pin and will be wedged between the pin and the groove sidewalls.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein said release pin includes a cylindrical portion, a tapered, conical portion and a head portion, said pin being pivoted to said body at said cylindrical portion. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for releasably holding a fishing line relative to a down rigger line, said apparatus comprising: a rudder shaped body having spaced parallel sides, a vertical front surface, a generally horizontal bottom surface and a top surface extending from the top of said front surface to said lower surface, said body having an elongated groove of generally constant width and depth opening outwardly through said top surface;   a tapered release pin of generally conical shape having the end of greatest diameter pivoted to said body within said groove, said pin being positionable within said groove; and   pressure means for exerting an adjustable pressure against the free end of said release pin when said pin is within said groove, said release pin including a cylindrical portion, a tapered, conical portion and a headed portion, said pin being pivoted to said body at said cylindrical portion, said body defining a threaded bore opening into said groove and said pressure means comprising:   a set screw having a bore opening through one end, said screw being disposed in said threaded bore;   a plastic plunger disposed in said set screw bore and extending into said groove and contacting the headed portion of said pin; and   a spring disposed within said set screw bore and biasing said plunger against said headed portion.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus for releasing a fishing line from a down rigger line, comprising: a housing having a bottom wall and spaced, parallel sidwalls joined by a pair of end walls and having an open top to thereby define a groove;   means for attaching said housing to a down rigger line so that said housing groove is positioned at an acute angle downwardly from a horizontal plane perpendicular to the down rigger line and said housing groove opening upwardly; and   release means pivotally secured to said housing about an axis perpendicular to the down rigger line and having a member movable from a first position within said housing groove to a second position extending upwardly from said housing groove for releasably holding a fishing line wrapped therearound, said member wedging said fishing line against a sidewall of said housing groove when in said first position and when a vertical force is exerted on said fishing line, said member moving to said second position releasing said fishing line when a horizontal force is exerted on said fishing line.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein said release means further comprises: said member being an elongated pin pivotally secured between the sidewalls of said housing at one end and extending substantially the entire axial length of said groove; and   resilient means engaging said pin at its nonpivoted end for holding said pin in said first position yet releasing said pin to move to said second position upon exertion of a horizontal force on said fishing line greater than the normal drag force exerted thereon.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus as defined by claim 12 wherein said pin is tapered from said pivoted end to said free end, the maximum diameter of said pin being substantially equal but less than the width of said groove. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as defined by claim 13 wherein said housing further includes a rudder shaped portion having a forward, vertical face and said means for attaching said housing to the down rigger line comprises said rudder shaped portion defining an elongated passage therethrough adjacent said vertical face.